in the heads of the Trumpists

In Wellington, South Florida, the dog park is the last place to talk. Built on two hectares thanks to the philanthropy of a local veterinarian, it is one of the rare places to meet people in this town without a city center. Here, town planning is reduced to gated communities, these immense closed housing estates with gatehouses and guards at the entrance, sometimes surrounded by high walls, connected by eight-lane roads drawn with a chalk line. While the canines frolic on the lawns in the shade of Virginia oaks, their owners converse civilly. We don’t talk about politics so as not to get angry, but everyone knows who voted for who.

In Florida, where Donald Trump won 56% of the vote, his voters hate the label “Trumpist”. But a few days before the inauguration of their champion, they do not hesitate to outline their expectations. With an eye on her frolicking shihtzu, Carol, 82, “born and raised Republican”, explains “finding herself on the political lines of Donald Trump, liberal on the social level, conservative on taxes and the Constitution”.

This graduate of the prestigious Harvard University, quite proud to say that her parents went to Yale, one of the rival establishments, does not adhere to the clichés about the Trumpist voter. After brilliant studies, she set up a profitable business in marketing with her husband, now deceased.

In a country where half of the citizens do not have a passport, she has traveled abroad, “to Ukraine, which I loved”, and boasts of cooking beef bourguignon “like a Frenchwoman”. On her vote, she “never hesitated”. “Trump is a businessman who survived the business jungle in New York, which should arouse admiration, she argues. The guarantee that he will tackle problems with a pragmatic approach and common sense forgotten by too many politicians. »

Despite his escapades, his conviction by the courts, his vulgarity and his provocations, almost all his voters adore the next guest of the White House. “His legal troubles? A stunt set up by the Democrats,” puts Karen, 72, a blonde with an impeccable perm, into perspective. The insurrection against the Capitol four years ago? “A media exaggeration,” assures this ex-teacher.

Retired from the merchant navy, Jon, a sturdy 73-year-old, admits that the new President “boasts on occasion”, but he, who claims to be “libertarian”, in other words anti-State, sees it as “proof of its ability to mark the balance of power, as in business, in order to get the best out of a negotiation.”

The obsession with migrants

Two hours north of Miami, Wellington is twenty minutes from Palm Beach, an enclave for wealthy people where Donald Trump has set up his club, Mar-a-Lago, “the winter White House”. “The people who know him all like him: he is kind and gentle,” believes Shirley, a bar waitress. I would like to shake his hand. This year is going to be fabulous! »

At the forefront of hopes constantly comes the protection of borders and the fight against illegal immigration. The number of undocumented immigrants in the country is estimated at between 11 and 16 million, which has increased under the mandate of Joe Biden.

“My grandparents who came from Italy followed the legal route and had to prove that they could provide for themselves,” says Carol. Today, our veterans sleep on the streets and illegal immigrants are housed in hotels. We walk on our heads. » Jon adds: “Our resources are limited, we cannot accommodate all these people who cost us a fortune. All these social programs for which we print money… Faced with tyranny, in 1776, during our American Revolution, we rose up, we did not emigrate. They should do the same in Venezuela or Nicaragua: overthrow their oppressors rather than flee here. »

“Closing the border”, in the eyes of pro-Trump people, would offer the assurance of a return to security as they link illegal immigrants and delinquency. “In New York, I no longer dared to go to Manhattan. I fear every day for my daughters left there,” says Karen.

At a nearby gym, Ben and Brad chat loudly while lifting their dumbbells, ignoring their sweaty neighbors. They too voted for Trump and are impatient for change. Because, to hear them, the country is on the verge of apocalypse. Everything seems cause for panic.

The illegals? “They come from emptied Mexican prisons to destroy us. » The mysterious drones that fly over New Jersey at night with complete impunity? “They come from China or maybe from much further afield. » Ukraine? “We’re tired of giving our money to enrich Zelensky. » John also admits his fears: “Putin and his threats, the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023… World War III is looming. Fortunately, President Trump is coming with his fortitude. »

Hostility towards Washington

According to statistics, more people die in Florida than are born there. This is due to the mild winter of the subtropical climate and lower taxes which appeal to retirees. However, the peninsula also attracts younger people like Paul, 43, who came from the Northeast and who opted for the west coast, on the Gulf of Mexico. “After the lies told during Covid, the air in Florida is lighter,” explains this lawyer, father of four children, practicing Catholic. Here, the State does not oppress the citizen. The police are not on the lookout for you speeding to extort money from you. »

Voting for Trump also means saying no to this growing influence of the federal state which has become intolerable. “We are not racist, ignorant and hateful people. We just want our right to happiness, freedom and security not to be thwarted by a State that wants to decide for us. »

Wellington prides itself on being, in winter, “the equestrian capital of the world”. Riders descend here with their mounts to escape the snow and cold. At the Wellington Equestrian Festival, that evening, the setting sun turned the sky purple, as if retouched by overly strong special effects.

On the stands, Jeremy absently watches the jumping competition alongside his wife, a rider. Between his bag of popcorn and his glass of Columbia Valley Riesling, this aeronautics entrepreneur confides his hopes: “It’s true, fanatics and weirdos aside, none of the candidates aroused enthusiasm. But I want to believe that with his entourage, Trump will clean up the shit in Washington: speed up approval procedures for new drugs, fire useless bureaucrats, lower taxes for more competitiveness. His policy will benefit the economy. The stock market is going to explode! And he will know how to be respected. When Notre-Dame de Paris reopened, we saw the leaders of other countries laughing at him… their body language spoke of how much they were all afraid of him. I liked that. » In this hostile world, fear must change sides.